Marta Kostyuk’s hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 victory over Mirra Andreeva in the Madrid Open final was a rollercoaster of passion and pressure. Following the championship point, Kostyuk fought back tears of joy, did a backflip while a devastated Andreeva cried into her towel.
Watching the aftermath, former world No. 1 doubles player Rennae Stubbs took to X to point out a crucial, shared factor in both finalists’ success, a key to unlocking the potential of “emotional” players.
Rennae Stubbs Uses Madrid Open to Show How Female Coaches “Can Make U Better”
Despite the heartbreaking loss and the lack of a handshake, 19-year-old Andreeva showed immense class during her runner-up speech. Visibly holding back tears, the teenager started her time on the microphone by specifically honoring Kostyuk’s incredible run on the dirt.
When Andreeva shifted her focus to her coach and the rest of her player box, her voice cracked.
“Thanks to my team for always being there for me,” she said, as the crowd erupted into applause. “I’m sorry, I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry. I’m just not going to look at you because it’s easier like this. I know that sometimes it might not be easy to work with me, but I greatly appreciate all your support and everything you do for me.”
The highs and lows of sport 🥲
Marta Kostyuk celebrated her Madrid title with a backflip on court, while Mirra Andreeva got emotional when thanking her team in her runner’s up speech.
All of the emotions on display after an amazing final in Madrid ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sDZ0TGdBJy
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 2, 2026
Meanwhile, Kostyuk also spoke candidly about the mental exhaustion of the tour and how close she had come to walking away from the sport entirely.
Looking directly at her box, the 23-year-old champion credited them for keeping her tennis dreams alive during her darkest moments.
“I think only we know everything we’ve been through and how many times I wanted to quit. You kept me afloat. You pushed me to keep going. That’s why I’m here today.”
After the match and the speeches, Stubbs highlighted that Kostyuk is coached by Sandra Zaniewska, while Andreeva is mentored by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez.
“Also want to highlight 2 female coaches in this final. Players pay attention!” Stubbs posted. “Women understand u & can make u better! These 2 players are VERY emotional & it’s proof that MAYBE just MAYBE they know how to get the best out of U, i really wish female players would see that more!!!”
File under things we love to see 👏
Conchita Martinez x Mirra Andreeva
Sandra Zaniewska x Marta Kostyuk #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/HU72xTvH8S— wta (@WTA) May 2, 2026
For decades, the coaching landscape on the WTA Tour has been overwhelmingly dominated by men. Stubbs’ post emphasizes that athletes may be missing out on the empathy and communication that female mentors bring to the table.
Kostyuk’s own experiences back this point. The Ukrainian champion has been vocal about the communication gap she experienced with male coaches. “With a male coach, most of them don’t talk,” she said in 2023.
Since partnering with Zaniewska, Kostyuk has found a coach who helps her manage her emotions. That understanding clearly paid off in Madrid, allowing Kostyuk to stay grounded during tight moments, such as the semifinal vs. Anastasia Potapova, where Potapova’s boyfriend, Tallon Griekspoor, was intensely ‘coaching’ the Russian-Austrian player.
Despite the straight-sets loss (3-6, 5-7) in the final, reaching the Madrid championship was a massive milestone for the 19-year-old Andreeva.
The Russian has previously explained how deep conversations with her coach transformed her mindset. During the 2025 Australian Open, Andreeva noted, ‘With her, I became closer to being fearless. I feel like we are two different people if we compare me [before] and me now.”
Both Andreeva and Kostyuk will now reset for the next major stop: the Italian Open in Rome. Thanks to their championship runs at the Caja Mágica, both women have secured massive ranking boosts. This guarantees them high seeds and first-round byes in Rome.
